SHARE

Wilton Teen Gets Probation In Boyfriend's Death At UConn

WILTON, Conn. – Amanda Denke, a Wilton resident and former University of Connecticut student who had faced multiple charges in connection with her boyfriend’s death in January, received two years of probation after pleading no contest.

Her boyfriend, Pawel Sywak, 20, also from Wilton, died Jan. 26, two days after a drug-related incident in Storrs.   

Denke, 19, made every effort to prevent Sywak's death, said her attorney, Brian J. Woolf. “None of the charges to which she pleaded to had anything to do with the death of her ex-boyfriend,” Woolf said. He called Sywak’s death in the drug-related incident “a really unfortunate accident.”

Woolf would not confirm whether Denke has gone back to college but said she will not return to UConn. “She is taking it one day at a time,” he said. “They were dating for a long time. They were high school sweethearts and she is suffering from the loss as well as (Sywak’s) family.” Both graduated from Wilton High School.

Denke received a three-year suspended prison sentence and two years of probation Aug. 27 in Rockville Superior Court after making the nolo contendere pleas to charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer and second-degree issuing a false statement, all misdemeanors.

She had been facing several charges, including possession of narcotics, marijuana and drug paraphernalia as well as reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer, tampering with evidence and making a false statement after her Feb. 16 arrest. UConn police said they found 24 bags of heroin and marijuana in Denke's purse at the scene in Storrs.

Officials from the state’s attorney’s office in Rockville could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

According to state court records, Denke was also sentenced to 90 days in jail Aug. 3 after pleading guilty to a charge of possession of a controlled substance from a January 2011 arrest in Danbury.

to follow Daily Voice Wilton and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE